Have your say on proposed new health facility in Hemel Hempstead

Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Dacorum Borough Council are leading work to look at options for developing this new facility, which we are discussing with patients, health and care partners, staff and community stakeholders.

One of the options being considered is the relocation of some services currently provided at Hemel Hempstead Hospital to a new health campus in Market Square, Hemel Hempstead.

This new facility would allow people to access specialist advice, get tests or treatment, and access support from different services all in one location.

In line with the principles outlined in the new 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS, the new health campus would have a strong emphasis on supporting people to stay well – helping to prevent ill health as well as diagnosing and treating illness.  Rather than relying on hospital visits, more care would happen locally, in the community, with teams working together to support people before their health problems get worse and caring for patients at home wherever possible.

Although most patients using the proposed new facility would be from Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area, it would also help care for patients from across the south and west of Hertfordshire.

If a decision was made to relocate many of the services currently at Hemel Hempstead Hospital to a new town-centre facility, those buildings would no longer be required. If that were the case, West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have indicated they would be willing to sell land and buildings on the Hemel Hempstead site to help fund the costs of the new health campus.

Throughout the planning process, the local NHS and Dacorum Borough Council are inviting a wide range of views on proposals to improve the delivery of important health and care services.

Over the summer, we want to better understand what services local people want to see developed in Hemel Hempstead and how we can best meet future care needs. We’ll be seeking feedback and thoughts on the health campus proposal to shape our thinking and approach – and would value your views. This proposal will then be considered against other alternatives in the Strategic Outline Case.

You can also come along to a public engagement event on Wednesday 16 July, 2-4pm South Hill Centre, Hemel Hempstead.

To help to plan the meeting, you will need to register to attend by emailing Heather Aylward, [email protected]